timekeeper

American  

[tahym-kee-per] / ˈtaɪmˌki pər /

noun

1. a person or thing that keeps time.

2. an official appointed to time, regulate, and record the duration of a sports contest or its component parts, as to give the official time of a race, assure that a round of boxing is ended exactly on time, or announce to football, basketball, hockey, etc., teams the amount of time left to play.

3. a timepiece.

   This watch is a good timekeeper.

4. a person employed to keep account of the hours of work done by others.

5. a person who beats time in music.

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timekeeper British  

/ ˈtaɪmˌkiːpə /

noun

1. a person or thing that keeps or records time

2. an employee who maintains a record of the hours worked by the other employees

3. a device for indicating time; timepiece

4. an employee with respect to his or her record of punctuality

   a good timekeeper

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Other Word Forms

• timekeeping
  noun

Etymology

Origin of timekeeper

First recorded in 1680–90; time + keeper

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

timekeeper

Although it’s still hard to imagine The Rolling Stones without their steadfast timekeeper, Jordan is certainly up to the task.

From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026

A timing discrepancy identified by official timekeeper Brad William also did not meet the commission's threshold to overturn the referee's discretionary decision.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

He had dozens of jobs, including stockroom clerk, timekeeper, accountant and city inspector, as well as myriad positions in newspaper journalism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

By undermining the pitcher’s authority on how the innings flow, the timekeeper shortens a game’s duration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 14, 2025

Corin climbed up to its lair on the Narnian side of Stormness one winter day when the snow was on the hills and boxed it without a timekeeper for thirty-three rounds.

From "The Horse and His Boy" by C.S. Lewis

Related Words

• timer